ARMBrix Zero is a cheap way to get your hands on a Cortex A15 chip

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At $145, the ARMBrix Zero is a heck of a lot more expensive than the Raspberry Pi, but it packs a whole lot more processing power thanks to the ARM Cortex A15-based Exynos 5 SoC it features. The last time a developer board with an Exynos 5 chip popped up on Geek.com, it was Samsung’s own offering and it had a list price that was more than $100 higher than the ARMBrix Zero.

This board also features the very capable Mali T604 GPU, and it’s kitted out with the basic trimmings you’d expect from a slightly more expensive model like the Zero. There’s an HDMI output, SPDIF, and microphone and speaker jacks for addressing your multimedia needs. Two USB 2.0 ports and a single USB 3.0 port provide room for your external peripherals, and an RJ45 Ethernet jack grants network connectivity.

There’s no on-board Wi-Fi module, but there is a SATA port. A second option like a mini PCIe socket or SD card might have been a nice addition, but it’s hard to fault ARMBrix for leaving them out when the price has been kept so low. If you need additional bells and whistles, Samsung’s board is the way to go.

Like most other dev boards (with the notable exception of that new AMD -based model from Sage), all you’re getting for the sticker price is the board itself. You’ll need to spring for a 5V power supply if you don’t have a spare kicking around, and it looks as though you’ll be on the hook for shipping if you pre-order the ARMBrix Zero, too.